Tone hole closure mechanism for wind instruments



March24, 197()` E IHgcARRUTHERs ET AL,

TONE HOLE CLOSUR MECHANISM FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 26, 1968 2y Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24, 1970 E. H. cARRUTHERs ET AL. 3,501,991

TONE HOLE CLOSUR MECHANISM FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed Feb. 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheel'I 2 AB E397' 6'.' CUNNINGHAM @www A r roe/VE V5 United States Patent O 3,501,991 TONE HOLE CLOSURE MECHANISM FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS Eben H. Carruthers, P.O. Box 40, Warrenton, Oreg. 97146, and Robert G. Cunningham, 2740 Elinor St., Eugene, Oreg. 97403 Filed Feb. 26, 1968, Ser. No. 708,194 Int. Cl. Gd 7/00 U.S. Cl. 84-380 16 lClaims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Mechanism for closing the tone hole of a wind instrument comprising a carrier movable toward and away from the tone hole, and a cover assembly supported through an elastomer post on the carrier. The cover assembly comprises stacked discs including an intermediate disc pad which is somewhat resilient, and forms a seal on the annulus that defines the tone hole. A backup disc backing up the disc pad recedes from the disc pad adjacent the region where it makes contact with such annulus. The elastomer post accommodates limited universal tilting of the cover assembly, whereby it can seek the plane of the annulus defining the tone hole.

This invention relates to musical wind instruments and more particularly to improved closure mechanism for closing a tone hole in such instrument.

The usual Wind instrument, whether made of wood, metal or some other material, comprises a tubular body for holding a column of air, and tone holes opening into the interior of the instrument body that control pitch. It is important that any closure mechanism for closing a tone hole close it completely, to prevent all ow of air through the hole. Even the slightest leakage affects the quality of the notes produced, and renders the instrument difiicult to play. In fact, with some instruments, only slight leakage can make the instrument completely unplayable.

Complicating the problem is the additional factor that the usual instrument has a considerable number of tone holes, and the closure mechanism for all must be in proper working order if the instrument is to be properly playable. The key system provided for opening and closing the tone holes is externally mounted on an instrument, and thus vulnerable to bending or other damage. While most musicians attempt to take reasonably good care of their instruments, as a practical matter, over a period of time and with normal handling some damaging of the mechanical components of the key system will occur, tending to change the manner in which a closure mechanism swings down upon and then registers with a tone hole.

A principal object of this invention is to provide novel closure mechanism for closing a tone hole which is effective to produce a good seal on the annulus defining a tone hole, and will do so over a period of time by accommodating minor damage to the key system without such causing disruptive misregistry of the closure mechanism with respect to its tone hole.

A related object is to provide novel tone hole closure mechanism which does not require skillful adjustments to place it in playing condition and to maintain it in such a condition.

The invention has the further advantage of permitting a proper seal to be made over a tone hole while retaining proper feel in the instrument. Most players like a rather firm feel, and this is permitted by the closure mechanism contemplated.

According to this invention, the closure mechanism for a tone hole includes a cover assembly which is sup- 3,501,991 Patented Mar. 24, 1970 ported on a cap or carrier and moved into tight engagement with the annulus defining a tone on movement of the carrier downwardly toward the tone hole. The cover assembly is mounted on the carrier through an elastomer post, which projects outwardly, normally substantially perpendicularly, from the bottom of the carrier. This post is received within an axially extending passage extending normally centrally through the cover assembly. The post, being made of an elastomer material, can flex slightly, to accommodate universal tilting or swiveling of the cover assembly relative to the carrier. Upon opening up of a tone hole, and movement of closure assembly away from the tone hole, the post holds the cover assembly firmly and in a predetermined position relative to the carrier, usually laterally spaced from and approximately paralleling the plane of the carrier. On the carrier being moved down toward the tone hole, to shift the cover assembly against the tone hole opening, the post permits any displacement required in the cover assembly to permit its base to seek the plane of the top of the annulus that defines the tone hole.

Several different modifications of post mounting for the cover assembly are contemplated, each having specific advantages in different applications. Thus, the post may be secured to the carrier by an axially extending fastener or, as provided in another modification of the invention, through a radially outwardly projecting skirt which is secured as by an adhesive to the base of the cap or carrier. Means may also be included to adjust the position of the post relative to the carrier, whereby proper closing of a tone hole as related to the closing of another tone hole may occur.

As another feature of the invention, it is contemplated that the cover assembly comprise a novel organization of discs, supported on the carrier and operablev to produce a good seal, without introducing a softness in touch in the playing characteristics of the instrument. Thus, the cover assembly may comprise a relatively stiff backing disc, and a disc pad supported by this backing disc which has a peripheral margin which comes against the annulus defining the tone hole to close it. This disc pad may be made of a material which is nonincreasing, and which is more yieldable and resilient than the material of the backup disc. The amount of deformation which is permitted in the marginal portions of the disc pad is controlled by the backup` disc supporting the back face of the disc pad.

As will be further apparent, the elastomer post discussed may be used in mounting the multiple disc cover assembly in a novel manner, whereby the discs, which normally are separate from each other, are held while being clamped against each other.

The invention also contemplates a novel procedure for replacing the elastomer post that mounts the cover assembly, and parts in the cover assembly, in the event that such becomes necessary.

Other objects .and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain modifications of the invention, and wherein:

FIG. l is a cross-sectional view, taken through portions of a wind instrument, and showing a tone hole with closure apparatus as contemplated supported over the tone hole;

FIG. 2 is a View, partly broken away, looking upwardly at the face of the cover assembly in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 illustrates a procedure that may be employed in mounting a cover assembly on a carrier for the assembly;

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention,

more particularly the elastomer post contemplated for mounting the cover assembly, and further shows how such post is deformed in the process of mounting a cover assembly on the post;

FIG. 5 illustrates yet another modification of the invention, which features an adjustable member which may be adjusted to change the position of the elastomer post with respect to the carrier;

FIG. 6 illustrates still another modification of the invention, featuring a different type of mounting of the post on the carrier, and a different organization of discs in the stacked discs that form the cover assembly; and

FIG. 7 illustrates yet another modification of the invention, where the carrier for the cover assembly cornprises a ring, and the post is mounted on such ring through a skirt with margins joined to the underside of such ring.

Referring now to the drawings, and first of all, more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, at 10 are indicated portions of a wind instrument, more particularly a metal wind instrument, such as a saxophone. A tone hole is designated at 12 defined by an annulus 14 which, in this instance, comprises an annular wall integral with the metal body of the saxophone. With a metallic instrument, such as a saxophone, it is` not always convenient to provide any yieldability in the annulus defining the tone hole, and thus any yieldability provided for the obtaining of a perfect seal must be found in the cover assembly which closes the tone hole.

Portions of the key-actuated system included in the instrument for opening and closing the tone hole are shown at 16. Such may include an arm, such as that shown at 18, which is swingable about an axis shown at 20, upon actuation of the usual key or touch piece in the key system, to have its left end moved downwardly over the tone hole.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cap or carrier 22 is joined to the -left end of arm 18, and this carrier has a substantially circular outline (viewing the cap in plan) and a somewhat larger diameter than the diameter of annulus 14. A closure assembly, designated generally at 24, is carried on the underside of the carrier, and it is this closure assembly which actually comes in contact with the annulus to produce a tight seal on lowering of the cap toward the tone hole.

The closure assembly is mounted in place through an elastomer mount, designated at 26. The mount, which may be made of rubber, a synthetic, vinyl plastic, etc., has a limited degree of iiexibility and is resilient. As will be described, it is this flexibility which permits such tilting in the closure assembly as may be necessary to affect a tight seal. The mount specifically comprises a post 28, and a radially outwardly projecting skirt joined to the base of the post.

The mount is fixed to the underside of the cap, as by bonding with an adhesive the upper face of skirt 30 to the base of the cap. Ordinarily, the mount is positioned so that post 28 is centered on the cap, and to promote centering an annular disc 32 may first be placed against the cap with the back of the skirt fitting within the central aperture defined within annulus 32.

Post 28 comprises what is referred to as a collar portion or base 28a, a neck 28b (which is cylindrical and has a slightly smaller diameter and thus a smaller cross section than base 28a) and a cap 28e joined to the outer end of neck 28b. The cap has a larger diameter and thus a larger cross section than the neck. It will further be noted that outer surface 33 of the cap tapers, the surface actually being curved as a dome in the particular modification illustrated.

Closure assembly 24 comprises three discs, lstacked one against the other, as specifically illustrated at 35, 37, and 39. Disc 35 constitutes a backup disc, and is ordinarily made of a fairly rigid material, such as anodized aluminum, or other metal. The outer circumferential margin of the backup disc is shaped with a shallow groove, shown at 35a.

Disc 37 constitutes what is referred to herein as a disc pad, and is made of a iiexible and resilient material, such as a closed neoprene sponge, or other material having a relatively low durometer reading. The circumferential margin of this disc pad overlies groove 35a in the backup disc. Because of the presence of the groove, the backup disc recedes from the back of the disc pad in a circumferential region which is behind the circumferential margin of the disc pad.

Disc 39, which is referred to as a fronting disc, may also be made of a relatively rigid material, such as metal or a stitf plastic. The disc preferably is somewhat dished, so as to have a concave face on the upper side thereof in FIG. 1. The disc pad is sandwiched 'between the backup an-d fronting discs, with the circumferential or peripheral edge of the fronting disc disposed inwardly of the peripheral margin of the disc pad, and bearing down on the disc pad in a region where the disc pad is backed up by the backup disc.

The three `discs of the cover assembly are mounted on post 28 with neck 28b extending through registering bores 40, 41, 42 that form. a passage extending through the centers of the discs. A shoulder presented by base 28a bears against the back or upper face of backup disc 35, and the shoulder presented by cap 28e bears on the lower or front face of the fronting disc. Preferably, with the assembly mounted, neck 28b is under slight tension, whereby the base and cap serve to force the backup and fronting discs toward each other, producing a clamping pressure on intermediate disc pad 37. With the organization, the post mounts the assembly while permitting universal tilting or swiveling movement of the cover assembly, with such being accommodated by iiexure of the post. The disc pad is held in a plane extending across the front of the backup disc by the front ing disc. The disc pad is permitted limited flexing toward the peripheral margin of the backup disc Where such is spaced rearwardly of the disc pad.

On closing of the tone hole, the carrier is moved downwardly toward annulus 14, with the exposed peripheral margin of the disc pad coming against the annulus defining the tone hole. The flexible resilient nature of the disc pad enables sealing contact to be produced with annulus 14. Conforming fit is promoted also by exing of the circumferential margin of the disc pad, as accommodated by the channel or groove in the backup disc. In the event that the plane of the cover assembly does not exactly conform to the plane defined by the top of annulus 14, the post permits tilting whereby conformity is reached. In this way, a tight seal is produced while retaining a good feel in the instrument. The seal is producible over a long period of time, even though there should be bending or other inadvertent damage to the key system. With the carrier moved away from the tone hole, the post holds the parts of the cover assembly in a predetermined position, which is with the assembly substantially parallel to the plane of the carrier.

With the invention it is an easy matter to replace any or all of the discs, if such should become necessary, and to replace the post. To mount the discs on the posts, the post is elongated by stretching it, which tends slightly to reduce its cross section, and results in the cap moving axially away from the base, whereby clearance is provided enabling the disc parts to seat about the neck. The tapered outer surface of the cap is forced through bores 40, 41, 42 of the discs, with the circumferential margin of the cap exing backwardly to permit passage of the cap through the bores. With release of tension, the post contracts, with clamping of the discs between the base and cap.

Mount 26 can be formed originally as shown in FIG. 3, with an elongated nipple 46 extending axially of the post outwardly from the outer surface of the cap. This nipple affords positive engagement by a tool, such as the pair of plyers shown at 48, with such tool used to elongate the post by tensing it. The nipple is inserted in advance of the cap through the bores and by pulling on the nipple, with the skirt in mount 26 properly anchored, the post may be elongated. With the assembly mounted, it is an easy matter to clip off the nipple, to produce the organization shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 4, which illustrates a modified form of the invention, in this instance post 49 of mount 51 is formed with an axially extending bore S0. This bore also enables an axially directed force tending to produce elongation of the post to be exerted, without engagement of the margins of the cap, by permitting a pin 52 to be inserted into the bore. With the pin forced downwardly, as in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 4, the neck elongates, permitting the discs to be moved upon the neck as earlier described. With the organization shown in FIG. 4, ordinarily the discs are placed on the mount prior to anchoring the mount on the underside of the carrier.

In a musical instrument it is usual, at least with respect to certain tone holes, for the closure mechanisms for plural tone holes to be linked together by the key system, whereby multiple tone holes are closed nearly simultaneously with actuation of a single key or touch piece. Where plural closure mechanisms are linked together, some adjustment in the position of a cover assembly with respect to its carrier may be required, if near simultaneous closing of all tone holes is to result. FIG. illustrates a modification of the invention which permits such an adjustment to be made.

In this modification of the invention the cap or carrier includes a boss 54, and a threaded lbore 56 extends through the center of the boss and through the cap. A screw 58 with a flat head 58a is screwed into threaded bore 56, with the head of the screw carried below the base of the cap. Skirt 53 of mount 55 is recessed along its back face, as at 60, to provide a space receiving head 58a.

The screw which is slotted or otherwise equipped to accommodate the attachment of a turning tool such as a screwdriver at its exposed upper end `S812, may :be turned to shift the screw axially within bore 56, with head 58a moving downwardly against the center of the skirt. This results in the portion of the skirt moving away from the carrier, with corresponding movement occurring in post 57. The peripheral margin of the skirt is adhered to the carrier, and the skirt stretches to accommodate downward movement of the post.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another modification of the invention, where mount 62 is secured to cap or carrier 64 by a screw shown at 66. As in the first modification of the invention, the mount includes a post 68 comprising base or collar 70, neck 72, and cap 74. The upper end of the base is formed with a passage 76 which receives boss 78 extending downwardly from the cap or carrier. Extending axially in the boss is an internally threaded bore 80. Screw 66 extends loosely through a passage 82 in the mount, and has its inner end screwed into bore 80. The head of the screw rests on a shoulder 84.

With this modification of the invention, the mount is secured with a screw rather than by an adhesive. The mount again, by reason of flexure permitted in neck 72, accommodates universal tilting movement of the cover assembly 88 which is supported on the mount.

The cover assembly in this modification of the invention also is different from the one earlier described, in that the backup disc, shown at 90, is formed with a shallow, conical margin 92, rather than with the groove discussed in the first modification of the invention. The backup disc recedes from the disc pad shown at 94, but the 6 support provided for the disc pad with the disc pad relaxed is only inwardly of the extreme outer edge of the disc pad.

Referring now to FIG. 7 which illustrates still another modification of the invention, shown at are portions of the body of a woodwind instrument, such as a clarinet. With such type of instrument, it is sometimes convenient to counterbore the body, whereby it receives a molded, resilient pad seat 102, which is the annular member defining the tone hole on the outside of the instrument. With such an annular member included, closing of the tone hole may be done with a cover assembly comprising a single disc wall 104 of rigid material and with a flat lower face that comes against the top of the pad seat with closure of the tone hole. I The carrier in the embodiment of the invention shown 1n FIG. 7 comprises a ring 106 suitably supported on a swingable arm 108. Disc 104 is supported on the base of the ring through an elastomer mount including a skirt 112 which has its circumferential margin fastened as by an adhesive to the base of the ring. The center back side of the skirt is exposed through the open center of the ring or annular member which is the carrier, and when playing the instrument, the players finger comes against the central portion to urge the carrier downwardly with disc 104 coming against pad seat 102.

In this instance, the post, shown at 114, permits, as in the other modifications described, swiveling of the disc with respect to the plane of ring 106.

In some instances the ring type of carrier described will be linked to a closure mechanism for another tone hole through the key system of the clarinet. In such a case, and if a closure mechanism makes closing contact before the one which is supported on a ring, then a players finger in moving against the exposed central portion of the'skirt enables suflicient shifting of the post with respect to the ring (and thus the disc with respect to the ring) whereby there is closing of the tone hole in proper timed relation to closing of the other tone hole.

It will be seen from the above that a number of novel features are contemplated, contributing to tight and proper closing of tone holes in a wind instrument. It should also be apparent that while various modifications of the invention have been described, other variations are possible without departing from the inventive concepts involved. It is desired, therefore, not to be limited to the specific organizations disclosed, but to cover all such modifications and variations of the invention as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Tone hole closure mechanism for closing the tone hole of a wind instrument comprising a tone hole cover assembly with inner and outer faces, a carrier for the cover assembly movable toward and away from the tone hole of the instrument, and an elastomer post secured to a side of the carrier and projecting out from said side, said cover assembly having a passage extending therethrough adjacent its center, said post extending through said passage in the cover assembly and mounting the cover assembly on the carrier with the cover assembly permitted universal tilting movement through flexing of the post.

2. The closure mechanism of claim 1, wherein said post includes a base and a neck joined to the base of smaller cross section than the base, said neck protrudes through said passage, and said base presents a shoulder supporting the inner face of said cover assembly with the cover assembly in a position spaced from said carrier.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein said post further includes a cap of larger cross section than said neck joined to the outer extremity of said neck, and said cap presents a'shoulder clamping against the outer face of the cover assembly.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said post at one end thereof is joined to a radially outwardly projecting skirt, and the post is secured to the carrier through said skirt. I

S. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said carrier comprises an annular member with an open center, and said skirt has margins secured to one side of said annular member, and a central portion of a side of the skirt is exposed through said open center to the side of the carrier opposite its said one side.

6. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said carrier comprises an annular member with an open center; the ,'skirt has margins secured to one side of said annular member; a central portion of the skirt is exposed through said open center to the side of the carrier opposite its said one side; said post includes a base adjacent said skirt, a neck of smaller cross section than the base joining at one end with the base, and a cap of larger cross section than the neck joining with the opposite end of the neck; said base presents a shoulder supporting the inner face of said cover assembly; and said cap presents another shoulder clamping against the outer face of the cover assembly.

7. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein said skirt is joined at outer margins to the carrier, an adjustable member is mounted on said carrier which bears against a center portion of the skirt, said center portion of the skirt being free of said carrier, said adjustable member being adjustable to different positions relative to the carrier and in said different positions spacing the central portion of the skirt at different positions relative to the carrier.

8. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said lcover assembly comprises a backup disc of relatively stiff material and a disc pad of yieldable and resilient material supported by the backup disc with a peripheral margin of the disc pad in a position to be brought against the 'neans defining the tone hole in the instrument.

9. The mechanism of claim 8, wherein said backup dise recedes from the back of the disc pad in a region behind said peripheral margin of said disc pad.

10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein said cover assembly`comprises a backup disc and a fronting disc, both of stiff material, and additionally comprises a disc pad of yieldable and resilient material sandwiched between the backup and fronting discs, said fronting disc having a peripheral edge disposed inwardly of the peripheral margin of said disc pad thus to expose said peripheral margin of said disc pad, said exposed peripheral margin being in a position to be brought against the means defining the tone hole in the instrument.

11. The mechanism of claim 10, wherein said post includes a base, a neck of smaller cross section than the base joined at one end to the base, and a cap of larger cross section than the neck joined to the opposite end of the neck; said neck protrudes through said passage in said cover assembly; said base presents a shoulder supporting the inner face of said cover assembly with the cover assembly in a position spaced from said carrier, and said cap presents a shoulder clamping against the outer face of the cover assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said backup disc recedes from the back of the disc pad in a region behind said peripheral margin of the disc pad.

13. Tone hole closure mechanism for coming against the annulus delining a tone hole in a wind instrument thus to close the tone hole comprising a tone hole cover asembly, a carrier, and means supporting the tone hole cover assembly on the carrier with the back of the cover assembly facing the carrier, said cover assembly comprising a backup disc facing the carrier extending over the back of the assembly and a disc pad extending over the front of and supported by the backup disc, said disc pad being made of a relatively yieldable and resilient material in comparison to the backup disc, said backup disc receding from the back of the disc pad in an annular region located behind the peripheral margin of the disc pad and said peripheral margin being exposed on the front of the cover assembly, said carrier supporting the cover assembly for movement of the annulus defining the tone hole in the instrument with said peripheral margin of said disc pad coming into Contact with said annulus.

14. The mechanism of claim 13, which additionally comprises a fronting disc of stiffer material than the disc pad, which extends over the front of the cover assembly, said fronting disc having a peripheral edge disposed inwardly of the peripheral margin of said disc pad thus to expose said peripheral margin of said disc pad.

15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein said fronting disc is yieldably clamped against the disc pad and backup disc by an elastomer post, said post being received within a passage extending through the center of the cover assembly.

16. An elastomer mount for mounting a tone hole cover assembly on a carrier comprising a post, said post having a base, a neck of smaller cross section than the base joined at one end to said base, and'a cap of larger cross section than the neck joined to the opposite end of the neck; said cap having an outer peripheral edge radially outwardly of said post which is resiliently deformable in a direction extending axially of the post; and means extending axially of the post affording positive engagement by a tool with such tool used to elongate the post by tensing it.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,604,360 lO/l926 McLean 84-385 X 1,728,553 9/1929 Klingler 84-385 1,747,113 2/1930 Gulick 84-385 3,205,752 9/1965 Carruthers 84-385 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,255,957 1961 France `685,768 1953 Great Britain.

STEPHEN J. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner J. F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 84-385 

